Ok, let’s go over some of the other places where Jesus mentions love. Most of them are, like much else in the Bible, shows us how to live in this world and get ready for the next. Matt 19:18-19 “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 6:27-28 But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord … Continue reading Jesus and Love….

I know this is about as far away from our Thanksgiving holiday as you can get but I think it is an appropriate time to again pray the Thanksgiving Prayer by Samuel Pugh. After the prayer we will listen to some of the words of the prophet Micah.  Oh God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry; When I have work, help me to remember the jobless; When I have a home, help me to remember those who have not home at all; When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, And remembering … Continue reading A time to remember…

Matt 22:37-40 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Of course, the above words are at the foundation of what it means to be a Christian. As He mentioned all of the law is based on these two commandments.  When he mentions the phrophets I guess he is referring to the messages that they brought to the people.  It … Continue reading Loving God…

We have been back home a little over a week now and I am finally getting settled into the daily routine. I have spent the week outside trying to get the yard and gardens back in shape.  We had friends set up to take care of things while we were gone but unfortunately the person who was to do the weeding fell and broke a leg while we were gone! We were very sorry to hear that but the garden weeds were delighted. They thrived in his absence :).  After much work, the gardens are doing fine.  The popcorn made it up … Continue reading Dreaming of Fried Green Tomatoes…

  Before I proceed to cover more places where the Lord shows us how to live I want to bring up some of my past experiences which may tint my beliefs in the Bible.  I spent 30 years as an engineer designing consumer products. During that time I wrote many product requirments documents,user manuals, repair manuals, and that sort of thing.  In that effort there were certain words that were strictly defined. Among those were shall, must, command. Those words were strictly enforced to mean something that was absolutely required to be done.  When requirements say the red indicator shall … Continue reading Must, shall, command…

Let’s spend some time studying the meaning of Love in the Gospel text.  Here is the first one:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.   Matt 5:43-45 You might call this tough love in that it is very very hard to even think about it.  Can you even imagine being able to love your enemy while you are about to take his life!  Pray for those who torment you! … Continue reading Love in the Red Letters